Appeal to South African Leaders: Is your sexual morality making you a worthy role model for the youth?
Friday, 12 February 2010 08:49
"You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother" (Mk19:20); "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Mt5:28). The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference expresses its strongest concern of the scandalous behaviour of leaders who shamelessly flout the norms of morality and decency, accepted and expected by the vast majority of people.
In particular we deplore the attempts to excuse or even defend bad moral behaviour in the name of ‘culture’.
Basing our stance on the clear teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ regarding relations between men and women, both married and unmarried, we call on all leaders to recommit themselves to being worthy role models for the youth and children of the nation.
While we note President Zuma's expression of regret for engaging in "unprotected sex", we are nonetheless appalled that for the second time in as many years he does not express regret or show remorse for his adultery.
We are equally appalled that irreparable damage that such immorality has done to the nation's efforts to slow down or even to reverse the rampant spread of HIV and AIDS.
Accordingly, we urge all followers of Christ, all men and women of goodwill, but especially our youth and young adults, to obey and live by the teaching of the Lord, which sets out the behaviour that is necessary for a sound and healthy society:
"For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are the things that defile a person." (Mt15:19-20).
The body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body" (1Cor 6:13)
Therefore we call on the whole Church community to fulfil its vocation and mission to bear witness to Christ's life and teaching by rejecting all immoral behaviour, especially sexual immorality and instead commit itself to keeping the Maker's instructions for a sound and healthy society.
Cardinal Wilfrid Napier OFM
Archbishop of Durban
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Comments (8)
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written by Sifiso Ngwenya, February 17, 2010
written by Sifiso Ngwenya, February 17, 2010
What culture is it? Probably a new non-human culture. Where there are sanctions, the action is unwanted. Moreso when there are penalties? At one point, you say it's cultureand at another point you say all culture laws against premarital and extramarital sex have been satisfied. You just do not know what you are saying. You just can't lead by example. President Zuma must put his house in order and if his culture is legitimate ground for justification, it has to reform. Society is the one that shapes culture. Why should suggest that culture blackmails yet he is the one trying to sell rubbish in the name of culture?
We cannot separate State politicas from Religion
written by Abel Nkadimeng, February 17, 2010
written by Abel Nkadimeng, February 17, 2010
We are the same citizens who voted the same leaders to power and gain it is us who has the powers to remove them if they do not represent our faith and believes as Christians, IF we keep quite we also to blame to immorality that is taking place because we have legislated some of this by our votes. eg. Abortion.
LENT is the time to pray for our morality corrupted leaders
written by Abel Nkadimeng, February 17, 2010
written by Abel Nkadimeng, February 17, 2010
The issue or morals and values its a BIG joke is our country and community at large, Our leaders to prayers and action from Christians at large, lets practice what we preach. Otherwise the future of the next generation is doomed.
written by Ken Everett, February 16, 2010
Is it only the Catholic church leaders who feel this way about immorality ? The silence of the mainstream and pentecostal churches is deafening.
Mr
written by Thomas Wertheim, February 16, 2010
written by Thomas Wertheim, February 16, 2010
We have a President by the name of Zuma,who is not worthy to be that of a democratic and Christian South Africa
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written by Letlhage, February 15, 2010
written by Letlhage, February 15, 2010
May God give you the courage, strength and wisdom to persue this journey and to even realise more than 5% target for 2010. This is the time really when we need the Devine Mercy, I I hope getting into Lent, more and more of us can pray the Devine Mercy Chaplet every day @ 15h00, to ask God to enter more and more of our hearts so as to know him and to follow the path he has placed for us.
Empowering our youth
written by Lydia, February 14, 2010
written by Lydia, February 14, 2010
This morning while attending mass, I made a conscious decision to join CWA so that I contribute my time, wisdom and catholic values which I was taught, to our youths. What is currently happening in our country is not a good example of leadership which instil good morals or show of respect to us women. Immoral people must not hide behind culture while exploiting women and children. All young children needs to be pointed in the right direction to respect their bodies and themselves. We have more children baptized their mothers single and very young. Marriage is a scarce commodity in our townships because what was instilled in us of sex before marriage is a myth our kids can not abstain. MY MISSION IS TO MOBILISE THE YOUTH IN MY CHURCH TO HOLD BACK AND ABSTAIN. I HOPE AND PRAY TO ACHIEVE 5% BY END OF 2010.
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